ORYOKI
MEAL VERSES
Verse for setting out the bowls
ALL:
Buddha was born in Kapilavastu,
enlightened in Maghada,
taught in Varanasi,
entered nirvana in Kushinagara.
Now we set out our bowls.
May we, with all living beings,
realize the emptiness of the three wheels:
giver, receiver and gift.
When servers are ready
DOAN:
In the midst of the three treasures
which verify our understanding,
entrusting ourselves to the sangha, we recall:
ALL:
Vairocana Buddha, pure Dharmakaya
Lochana Buddha, complete Sambhogakaya,
Shakyamuni Buddha, myriad Nirmanakaya,
Maitreya Buddha of future birth;
all buddhas throughout space and time,
Lotus of the Wondrous Dharma, Mahayana Sutra,
Manjushri Bodhisattva, great wisdom,
Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, great activity,
Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, great compassion:
All honored ones, bodhisattva-mahasattvas,
Wisdom Beyond Wisdom, Maha Prajna Paramita.
Breakfast only
DOAN:
This morning meal of ten benefits
nourishes us in our practice.
Its rewards are boundless, filling us with ease and joy.
Lunch only
DOAN:
The three virtues and six tastes of this meal
are offered to buddha and sangha.
May all sentient beings of the universe
be equally nourished.
As soon as serving is finished
ALL:
We reflect on the effort that brought us this food
and consider how it comes to us.
We reflect on our virtue and practice
and whether we are worthy of this offering.
We regard greed as the obstacle to freedom of mind.
We regard this meal as medicine to sustain our life.
For the sake of enlightenment we now receive this meal.
Lunch only
ALL:
Oh spirits, we now give you an offering;
his food is for all of you in the ten directions.
Utensils are put in the bowls while chanting
ALL:
First, this is for the Three Treasures,
next, for the four benefactors,
finally, for the beings in the six realms.
May all be equally nourished.
(Lift up Buddha bowl)
The first portion is to end all evil,
the second is to cultivate every good;
the third is to free all beings.
May everyone realize the Buddha Way.
After bowls are cleaned, water pickup
ALL:
The water with which we wash our bowls
tastes like ambrosia.
We offer it to the many spirits, may they be satisfied,
om ma ku ra sai so wa ka
After bowls are wrapped
DOAN:
Abiding in this ephemeral world
like a lotus in muddy water,
the mind is pure and goes beyond.
Thus we bow to Buddha.